Recoil and muzzle jump aren't really the same thing. Recoil will be the same if the guns weigh the same (Newton's law). But a gun with a low bore axis minimizes muzzle flip, thus staying on target better in rapid fire. It just makes it easier for the shooter. A newbie will probably not be able to tell the difference, but as his skill increases, he will be able to see the difference.

I can certainly tell the difference in muzzle jump between a Glock and an XD. The Glock is simply easier for me to shoot fast and well because the front sight doesn't jump as high.

Probably also true, but if he eventually becomes more skilled, especially in shooting at speed (defensive type), he will probably come to prefer the shorter reset. This is very true if he takes good instruction, where emphasis is placed on resetting the trigger correctly.

The XD has a very comfortable grip - that "feel" thing that sells guns in the shop - but takes a back seat to the Glock in practically every other respect, especially once you actually get out on the range and start shooting fast.

True. True.

The XD, from my experience and what I have read from others, is more new shooter friendly. The original poster who is looking for a home defense and occasional range gun would fit this category.

The XD has a very comfortable grip - that "feel" thing that sells guns in the shop - but takes a back seat to the Glock in practically every other respect, especially once you actually get out on the range and start shooting fast.

That "feel" thing is what makes each one of us make the initial purchase. Somebody must like the XD line, they aren't out of business. Hasn't a couple popular named competition shooters won matches with an XD? I know...more Glocks have won compared to the XD. But, if he prefers SA over Glock, that's not all bad.

That "feel" thing is what makes each one of us make the initial purchase. Somebody must like the XD line, they aren't out of business. Hasn't a couple popular named competition shooters won matches with an XD? I know...more Glocks have won compared to the XD. But, if he prefers SA over Glock, that's not all bad.

Rob Leatham has won with an XD, but he works for Springfield and can only shoot their guns. I have personally seen Rob shoot an XD, and the guy is amazing. But most top shooters, when given the choice, choose Glock.

The XD is a good pistol, no doubt about it, and if anyone prefers it, that's fine with me - "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian." I just always sense a sort of anti-Glock tilt on internet forums, especially among people without a whole lot of experience in defensive or speed shooting, and try to counter it with some objective facts about Glock advantages. A lot of people act like Glock is all smoke and mirrors, when the gun does in fact have some major things going for it.

Mike I agree. I read on forums where Glock is the gun invented by God and others say it's a piece of overrated hipe-junk. All good quality handguns will launch a bullet down the barrel when the trigger is pulled. My point is I believe "feel" is very important for a new purchase. Besides, not one of us will be crack, top notch, high speed, accurate, competition shooters. If my hands/wrists were comfortable with the Glock angle, I probably would have purchased one. The service models I've fired were nice (except that little G26) with no function problems. I'm not a Glock basher, I just prefer different brand makers.

Mike I agree. I read on forums where Glock is the gun invented by God and others say it's a piece of overrated hipe-junk. All good quality handguns will launch a bullet down the barrel when the trigger is pulled. My point is I believe "feel" is very important for a new purchase. Besides, not one of us will be crack, top notch, high speed, accurate, competition shooters. If my hands/wrists were comfortable with the Glock angle, I probably would have purchased one. The service models I've fired were nice (except that little G26) with no function problems. I'm not a Glock basher, I just prefer different brand makers.

And my point is that I think "feel" is totally overrated compared to objective performance. The amazing human hand will adapt to just about anything that isn't simply too big or ridiculously small. The gun, however, will never change or adapt - it will always have a high bore axis and/or a long reset.

The very fact that none of us will be topnotch competitive shooters makes it, in my eyes, even more important that we choose the guns that give us the best balance between accuracy and speed. Shooters like Rob Leatham can overcome things like long trigger resets and high bore axes much more readily than the rest of us.

In this case, basically, you can live with a gun (the XD) that "feels" good before you've had a chance to adapt, but that will always be slower to shoot due to simple physics. Or you can choose a gun (the Glock) that may not "feel" as good at the outset, but that will allow you to shoot faster with the same degree of accuracy. Granted, the difference will not be noticeable in the hands of a novice, but experienced shooters can tell the difference.

Once again, though, in the broad scheme of things, as long as you follow the First Rule of Gunfighting ("Have a gun!"), you're still way ahead of 99.9% of people. One gun may have a minor advantage over the other, but simply being armed is what really counts.

Not because they aren't great guns, but because the angle of the grip makes it uncomfortable to shoot (for me). I feel like I'm aiming at the floor just to hit the target.

To me the XD is far more natural to point and shoot... but again, that's just my opinion.

I disagree that only new shooters worry about the feel of a gun. Granted, if you shoot one long enough you will get used to it. Hell I could probably learn to love Glocks if I shot one enough times.

But I strongly feel that you need to be comfortable with your gun. It has to feel right to you. It can be the most reliable, accurate pistol on the planet but if it doesn't feel right in your hand do you really want to depend on it in a pinch?

Go to the range, shoot a box of ammo through each. Then go back a week later, do the same. After that you'll know without a doubt which one you want.

I shot the XD9 and Glock 19 head to head at the range and while I was a bit more accurate with the Glock, it definitely did not feel right in my hand. Actually it was uncomfortable and I found my middle finger rubbing the bottom of the trigger guard. The XD on the other hand felt as if it was molded for my hand. I also shot the Glock 26...and although my accuracy was actually best with it (so accurate it would make Mother Teresa weep with approval), it was SO uncomfortable to shoot (not nearly as bad as the Kahr PM9 though). I then dry handled the XD9 subcompact and after that there was no way I could in any good conscious buy the Glock over the XD. The comfort level was vastly different for me.

I shot the XD9 and Glock 19 head to head at the range and while I was a bit more accurate with the Glock, it definitely did not feel right in my hand. Actually it was uncomfortable and I found my middle finger rubbing the bottom of the trigger guard. The XD on the other hand felt as if it was molded for my hand. I also shot the Glock 26...and although my accuracy was actually best with it (so accurate it would make Mother Teresa weep with approval), it was SO uncomfortable to shoot (not nearly as bad as the Kahr PM9 though). I then dry handled the XD9 subcompact and after that there was no way I could in any good conscious buy the Glock over the XD. The comfort level was vastly different for me.

So you chose a compact version of the gun you shot less well? Wow. I can't really wrap my mind around that, since the purpose of shooting is hitting. To each his own, I guess.

remember, we are in the springfield part of the forum here. a note regarding triggers on the XDs as well---they can be lightened to around 3-4lbs instead of 5.5-7.7 as listed on the website, and the length can be shortened. put an XD45 in your hand and put a glock .45cal and the glock's lower feels more like a 2x4...

accuracy is also a different point to tackle as you can definitely hit a BG multiple times in the same hole or you can hit a shoulder, rib, stomach, chest....i'd rather my groupings be about 6" rather than 1" if i'm attacked...

So you chose a compact version of the gun you shot less well? Wow. I can't really wrap my mind around that, since the purpose of shooting is hitting. To each his own, I guess.

Well, I think there are multiple purposes of shooting and accuracy is only one component. A big part of it is the enjoyment of shooting and having a good time. I think accuracy builds with practice and familiarity with a pistol...but if something fits in your hand like a brick, that's not going to change. Who wants to shoot a gun that feels like a brick in their hand even if they are slightly more accurate with it?